Porn murder lawyers want to opt out
Attorneys for convicted killer Harlow Cuadra filed court papers last week requesting to be released from his defense.
Attorneys Paul Walker and Joseph D’Andrea said in a filing that they didn’t believe Cuadra had the money to pay them for their work on his appeal, which they filed last month.
A Luzerne County jury found Cuadra, 27, guilty of first-degree murder in March and sentenced him to life in prison in connection with the January 2007 stabbing death of Dallas Township gay-porn producer Bryan Kocis. Cuadra’s former partner Joseph Kerekes, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December and is serving a life sentence.
Prosecutors argued that Cuadra and Kerekes murdered Kocis, owner of Cobra Video, to enable one of Cobra’s models, Sean Lockhart, to work with their own porn company.
Walker and D’Andrea appealed both the verdict and sentence on Cuadra’s behalf April 7, arguing that Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski should not have permitted certain pieces of evidence to be included in the trial.
Olszewski will hold a hearing for the attorney’s removal May 22.
PWD to delay Pine St. decision
The Philadelphia Water Department is still evaluating other possible sites for its construction project that was originally slated for Pine Street.
Last month the department projected it would make its final decision on a site for the storm-relief project by the end of April, but said this week the decision won’t be made until this summer.
The project, which is meant to curb sewage backup in some Washington Square West and South Philadelphia homes, was initially planned for Pine Street from Broad to Seventh, but PWD is now evaluating moving the construction to an area of Washington Avenue instead.
Joanne Dahme, PWD watersheds manager, said this week that the agency has been meeting with community leaders from the Washington Avenue corridor and next will meet with the civic associations that represent the area, which won’t happen before early June.
Lucky Lounge ends
The last-ever Lucky Lounge party will be held from 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. May 15 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St.
Late local business owner Tony Sparacino began the fundraising parties in 2001 and, after his death in 2007, his partner Mike Toscani re-launched the event, raising money for Sapphire Fund and the Mazzoni Center.
Twenty percent of Stir’s income during the event will be donated to Sapphire Fund’s Tony Sparacino Memorial Scholarship.
Community to honor its own
The LGBT and ally community is invited to honor Keith Gray, who passed away last month, at a life celebration from 5-7 p.m. May 17 at The Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany, 330 S. 13th St.
Gray, 47, an active member of the local LGBT community for more than 20 years, died at Methodist Hospital April 24.
Following the memorial, friends are invited to ONE Nightclub, 121 S. 19th St..
A portion of the door proceeds will go to cover Gray’s final expenses; any additional funding will be donated to charity.
— Jen Colletta